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Artificial Tribotactic Microscopic Walkers: Walking Based on Friction Gradients

Joshua P. Steimel, Juan L. Aragones, and Alfredo Alexander-Katz
Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 178101 – Published 22 October 2014
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Abstract

Friction, the resistive force between two surfaces sliding past each other, is at the core of a wide diversity of locomotion schemes. While such schemes are well described for homogeneous environments, locomotion based on friction in inhomogeneous environments has not received much attention. Here we introduce and demonstrate the concept of tribotaxis, a motion that is guided by gradients in the friction coefficient. Our system is composed of microwalkers that undergo an effective frictional interaction with biological receptors on the substrate, which is regulated by the density of such receptors. When actuated stochastically, microwalkers migrate to regions of higher friction, much like a chemotactic cell migrates to regions of higher chemoattractant concentration. Simulations and theory based on biased random walks are in excellent agreement with experiments. We foresee important implications for tribotaxis in artificial and natural locomotion in biological environments.

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  • Received 10 April 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.178101

© 2014 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Friction Gradients Guide Artificial Walkers

Published 22 October 2014

Pairs of micrometer-sized magnetic beads could “hunt” for chemicals by sensing changes in surface friction.

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Authors & Affiliations

Joshua P. Steimel, Juan L. Aragones, and Alfredo Alexander-Katz*

  • Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA

  • *aalexand@mit.edu

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Vol. 113, Iss. 17 — 24 October 2014

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